Current Opportunities
President and CEO
The Organization
Overview:
Accredited by the American Association of Museums, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art serves more than 125,000 visitors annually from all 50 states and over 25 foreign countries, and presents exhibitions drawn from throughout the world. The Museum's collection covers a period of five centuries with highlights in European and American art from the nineteenth through twenty-first centuries, a growing collection of contemporary art, and a comprehensive collection of glass sculpture by Dale Chihuly. The Museum boasts the region's premiere repertory cinema which screens the finest international, independent, and classic films. Amenities include the Museum Store, a roof terrace, and the Museum Cafe.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Oklahoma City Museum of Art is to enrich lives through the visual arts.
History
The Oklahoma City Museum of Art's roots trace to early statehood efforts of the Oklahoma Art League and Art Renaissance Club, organizations concerned with art education for a young city. Over time more formal efforts began with a Works Progress Administration (WPA) Experimental Gallery, which was open to the public. The Museum transitioned from a federally-funded gallery to a private institution when it was incorporated on May 18, 1945.
The Museum today is the synthesis of two predecessors, the Oklahoma Art Center, itself an outgrowth of the WPA Experimental Gallery, and the Oklahoma Museum of Art. Although both institutions were committed to collecting, and exhibitions, a depressed economy following the downturn in the energy industry during the 1980s challenged the city's ability to support two institutions. This led to a merger of the two museums in 1989. Museum leaders seized the opportunity to bring a new Oklahoma City Museum of Art to maturation as a single, financially secure entity.
When the Museum moved back downtown from its site at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds, it was much more than a change of location. The Metropolitan Area Projects (“MAPS” - now formulating its 4th edition) was Oklahoma City’s implementation of an extra penny sales tax which began a critical public/private partnership which has resulted in a transformation of the neglected urban center.
Independently from MAPS, Museum leadership decided to purchase, rehabilitate and expand a derelict 1940’s cinema into a state-of-the-art facility and to make a commitment to the visual arts and the future of Oklahoma City.
Led by a $14.5 million capital grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation and by an extraordinary outpouring of support from more than 500 foundations, corporations, and individual donors, the $40 million goal was reached to build and endow the new Museum, entirely with private funds. In March of 2002, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Donald W. Reynolds Visual Arts Center, opened to critical acclaim. The Museum now attracts over 125,000 visitors each year with its permanent collection, cycle of temporary exhibitions, inventive education opportunities, international film program, Museum Store, and Museum Cafe.
Donald W. Reynolds Visual Arts Center
Consisting of three floors of galleries, the Museum School, Noble Theater, and Museum Cafe, the Donald W. Reynolds Visual Arts Center is located in the Arts District in downtown Oklahoma City.
Noble Theater
Incorporating the original 1947 Centre Theater as an adaptive reuse project, the 250-seat Noble Theater features a state-of-the-art projection system and is home to the Museum's film program, which offers screenings every Thursday through Sunday. The Theater also hosts lectures and musical performances and is available for non-Museum meetings. A refurbishment of the Noble Theater is currently underway.
For more information, please see www.okcmoa.com.
The Position
Position Title: President and CEO
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Reports to Board of Trustees
Direct Reports: Chief Financial Officer
Director of Development
Director of Facilities/Operations
Director of Curatorial Affairs
Director of Learning and Engagement
Director of Marketing and Communications
Key Relationships: Board of Trustees
OKCMOA supporters in the community including individual donors, corporations, and foundations
City and State government officials
Tribal government officials
Top leaders at peer organizations within Oklahoma City and the State of Oklahoma arts community
Resources: Annual operating budget of approximately $7.6 million
$23 million endowment
46 full-time and 34 part-time staff
Main Focus:
The CEO/President of the OKCMOA will spearhead the pursuit of the following institutional priorities in the coming years by:
Growing revenue and the endowment through:
• Earned income
• Increased attendance and membership
• Charitable gifts, endowed and otherwise
• Granted funds
Developing deeper and more effective organizational capabilities by:
• Cultivating exceptional staff cohesion and integration
• Building capacity within the team for the Museum's future growth
• Recruiting highly-qualified new team members
Furthering the high-quality artistic programs of the Museum by:
• Fostering the development of original exhibitions that could travel to other venues
• Leveraging relationships with other museums to attract visiting exhibitions that present exciting and educational content otherwise not available to the community
• Enhancing the existing collection by garnering gifts of art and acquisitions funds
Bolstering the Museum's role within Oklahoma City, the State of Oklahoma, and the surrounding States (i.e., increasing the Museum’s local and regional “footprint”) via:
• Engaging in active community outreach
• Furthering the educational mission of the Museum
• Supporting the Museum's profile as a leader in the arts and culture community in the region
• Continuing the development of a Master Plan for the renovation and expansion of the Museum.
Specific Responsibilities
1. In close consultation with the Board of Trustees, develop and articulate a specific vision for the Oklahoma City Museum of Art by collaborating on the development of a new and comprehensive strategic plan that will serve as a roadmap for the coming years.
2. Develop intermediate and long-range plans for a sustainable program of original exhibitions and educational offerings to diversify and expand the Museum's audiences in the community.
3. Assume overall responsibility for raising funds from individuals, corporations, foundations, and government sources. Partner closely with the Director of Development to map out a strategy to enhance fundraising outcomes.
4. Act as the "face and voice" of the Museum to the community locally and regionally, serving as a leader among peers in the arts and cultural arena and an ambassador to the general public, government officials, businesses, and other constituents.
5. Devise a resourceful acquisitions policy using a long-range plan consistent with the overall artistic and strategic direction of the Museum with the provision that acquisitions must be self-funded through endowments, donated from private collections or purchased with specifically-raised dollars.
6. Coach and manage the Executive Team, as well as the curatorial team, and implement staff training programs.
7. Responsibly steward the Museum's assets (artworks, annual revenue, endowment, facilities, staff, and relationships with volunteers, donors, trustees and the city) to assure that the organization will thrive.
8. Continue the effort begun in 2017 to oversee the selection of an architectural firm to develop a Master Plan to respond to the 21st Century transformation of American art museums, which will include new and varied art and cultural experiences to expand the relationship with the community, and to address the need to reorient Museum programs and innovate for the future.
The Person
• Demonstrated leader with background in, understanding of, and passion for, visual art of all genres and eras.
• Tireless, robust, and passionate about connecting people with and inspiring interest in art of all periods, media and cultures
• A seasoned museum professional with a track record of leveraging regional and national networks; should have proven relationships with art leaders, collectors, and stakeholders.
• Financial and business acumen; committed to promoting fiscal stability and sustainability.
• Demonstrated success raising funds for an institution with the ability to relate well across constituencies, working in partnership with trustees and through maintaining friendly interactions with donors (individual, corporate, and foundations).
• Highly-skilled manager and superb communicator, able to motivate and support staff to do work of the highest quality.
• History of being decisive when required, as well as delegating appropriately and fostering collegiality, collaboration, and respect among staff.
• Proven managerial skills with experience in hiring, retaining, and empowering a team to take an organization to the next level. Experience leading a team effectively during a period of change highly desired.
Visionary and Strategic Leadership
• Develops and communicates a clear, compelling view for the future of the Museum and its role in, and importance to, the community.
• Exudes enthusiasm for the Museum's mission that is inspiring and contagious, galvanizing the community around it at all levels.
• Exhibits thorough knowledge and passion for art and art history.
• Entrepreneurial, able to advocate and foster innovative ideas, encouraging experimentation.
Organizational Capability
• Experience retaining, motivating and mentoring top talent.
• Fosters inclusive culture, sets high-expectations and clear goals around strategic initiatives.
• Proven ability to balance budgets, direct institutional assets and make reasoned decisions within financial constraints.
Relationship Builder
• Initiates and nurtures important relationships in support of the organization, engaging stakeholders inside and outside the Museum to gain broad support for ideas and initiatives.
• Approaches people in a genuine way, with a finely-tuned understanding of what connections are crucial to the organization and its stakeholders, and how to leverage them in the best and most enduring manner.
• Leads by example, demonstrating to staff members how to build positive relationships and motivating them to do the same.
Open Communication
• Arranges multiple channels for Board members, staff, and other stakeholders to share information and influence decisions.
• Provides periodic, candid reports to Museum Board members and the Moderns Board.
• Provides as a strong model of personal contact and non-hierarchical communication with people at all levels of the extended organization. ·
• Encourages open discussion of different ideas and views, welcoming and soliciting input; a keen and sensitive listener.
Team Leadership
• Proactively initiates and fosters collaboration across the institution and in range of situations.
• Understands implicitly how to manage and work with different people and various working styles.
• Anticipates and removes obstacles to effective teamwork, resolving conflicts if they arise.
Personal Characteristics
• Diplomatic, politically attuned, and able to be an effective and graceful negotiator.
• Relates well to a wide variety of diverse individuals, types and styles; quick to find common ground.
• Energetic, with an outgoing, friendly, down-to-earth personality.
• Warm and approachable, with a healthy sense of humor.
• An abiding commitment to reaching a broad and diverse audience.
• A high level of personal integrity.
• Adept at prioritizing competing demands, being calm and balanced as much as possible.
• Wisdom and maturity; someone who values long-term connections.
• Humility committed to continuous learning and self-development
Education
An advanced degree in a discipline related to the arts or business is required. Through education or experience, the candidate should possess considerable knowledge about art history, art education, and the operations of art museums or galleries.
Salary & Benefits:
Competitive salary with comprehensive benefits package.
Please send any inquiries or submit your CV with cover letter by September 27, 2019 to:
Meg Salyer, President & CEO
Accel Financial Staffing
811 N. Broadway Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
All inquiries, applications and nominations will be treated confidentially by the Search Committee. References will be contacted with permission from finalist candidates.
EOE